The Telecoms Industry In 2024

What will the telecoms industry will look like in 10 years time? BMI's team of analysts highlights several key trends and themes that will overhaul the nature of the telecoms industry, and that of other sectors, too.

"We see fewer network operators, more specialist service providers and tighter integration between wireline/wireless/media. M2M (machine to machine) will be well established, but wearables and personal transportation will account for maybe half of the Internet of Everything."

"Ten years ago people were sending SMS messages on basic phones but by 2014, we are using sophisticated touch-screen devices to harness the internet. In 2024, communications between people will migrate from phones to virtual reality, with participants communicating in a virtual world created by the Vodafone, China Mobile and AT&T of tomorrow. TMT (technology, media, and communications) entrepreneurs will be the 'oil barons' of the future."

"A core number of 'operators' in the developed world will transcend borders, providing seamless roaming between countries through the use of standardised technology/spectrum and a converged offering of mobile voice, internet, cloud, IT services, M2M, e-commerce, VAS )value-added services), etc."

"Data demand will force operators to focus on making services available on demand while networks will be run separately with little distinction (from a users point of view) between wireless and wireline delivery platforms."

"Africa will look increasingly like Europe's market now, with high levels of consolidation, though leading operators will fare better than Europe's having already diversified into other sectors. In mature markets, the lines between e-commerce, media and telecoms services will be entirely blurred. The new ideas/trends will come from smaller, more agile companies. Wearables like Google Glass will further increase people's reliance on technology to socialise and communicate."

"Telecoms companies will almost become utilities, with a handful of players (1 - 3 maximum) controlling most of the wireline and wireless assets, including spectrum, and largely providing basic voice and data connectivity for individuals and businesses. We will see a growing number of new services provided by third-party companies operating over the network infrastructure of operators, almost like businesses do with the electricity from power companies."

The above quotes are excerpted from a larger article that we published last week. Full coverage of the global telecommunications industry is available to subscribers at Business Monitor Online.